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A family from South Carolina is safe after their minivan became submerged in the Atlantic surf on Daytona Beach. (Published Wednesday, Mar 5, 2014)

Updated at 2:51 AM EST on Thursday, Mar 6, 2014

Three children were rescued from a minivan that plowed into the ocean at a Florida beach with their mother at the wheel.

A man who helped rescue the mother and children told WESH, the NBC affiliate in Orlando, that the pregnant mother made a hard turn into the ocean north of the Silver Beach approach in Daytona Beach Tuesday afternoon.

Weird News Photos

Tim Tesseneer told WESH the children were screaming inside the van, saying their mom was trying to kill them.

“The two in the back seat was crying, with their arms out, saying, ‘Our mommy’s trying to kill us. Please help,’” Tesseneer told WESH.

Video footage shows waves crashing against the van, which appeared to be stuck in the water close to shore. Rescuers can be seen helping the passengers out through the back of the van as it rocked in the water.

The older children told the rescuers there was a baby inside while the mother remained silent, rescuers told WESH.

"The kids are like, 'No there's a baby. There's a baby,'" Tesseneer said. "She (the mother) wouldn't say a word. She didn't tell us nothing about a baby."

The mother, who walked away from the van before the younger child was removed, has been admitted to a local hospital for a mental health examination, according to the station.